As a reminder, until 2018 we still had the loophole of unlimited Rewarding Events, so many Titaniums (OP included, if memory doesn't fail) would indeed drop from Tit to Silver (or nothing) if no soft landing was offered.

Probably was the idea to begin with: pay ~$400 for 7-8 rock bottom "meetings", then get Titanium for 2019, Plat 2020, Gold 2021.